Investigating the performance of a test phase change material chamber for passive solar applications: experimental and theoretical approach

This paper presents the results of a numerical and experimental study for the performance of a test phase change material (PCM) chamber for passive solar applications. The numerical part of the study was based on a one-dimensional model for the phase change problem. The numerical treatment was based on a finite-difference technique and the results were compared with literature data and field measurements. The experimental test PCM chamber has been designed and developed at the campus of Central Greece University of Applied Sciences at Psachna, Evia. The PCM used in the numerical and experimental tests was GR 27 of Rubitherm. Results show that the PCM does not operate as an insulation material but as a mean of temperature stabilisation in the indoor environment during its phase change period. Regarding the application of the numerical model to simulate the performance of the experimental PCM chamber, results show good qualitative and quantitative agreement.